Pakistan, July 14 -- TOKYO - Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has suffered a significant drop in public support, reaching its lowest level since returning to power in 2012, according to a new NHK poll released on Monday.

The survey, conducted between July 11 and 13, showed LDP support slipping by 4.1 percentage points to just 24%. Although support for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's coalition government remained steady at 31%, the numbers indicate a tough challenge in Sunday's upper house election.

Recent polls have shown a steady decline in the LDP's popularity, raising concerns that Ishiba's coalition with junior partner Komeito may lose its grip on the upper house - just months after losing its majority in the lower hous...